Lady Bearcats earn a key league win over Polk

HHS will go for its sixth straight conference title Friday night at Owen

Teammates surround Marietta Melendez (4) after she scored during Wednesday's match against Polk County at Hendersonville.

PATRICK SULLIVAN/ TIMES-NEWS

By BRITTANY JACKSONTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 9:52 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 9:52 p.m.

Hendersonville kept its hopes for a sixth straight Western Highlands Conference title alive Wednesday night at Dietz Field by shutting out Polk County, the only conference team that has defeated it this season, 3-0.

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If the Lady Bearcats (15-3-1, 10-1-1 WHC) had given up another loss they would have given the outright title to Owen, which only has two ties and no conference losses this season. Owen beat Polk on Monday night to give the Lady Wolverines (11-6-1, 9-2-1 WHC) their first conference loss.

"(Wednesday) night we played 80 minutes solid of soccer. We've been struggling to do that this season, by playing just one half of good soccer and then letting up, or vice versa," said HHS coach Freddy Oviedo.

It was Senior Night, and before the game HHS's only two seniors were honored, Anna Huntley and Kimberly Stout.

"I think the fact that it was Senior Night was a big factor, but I also think the girls learned from Monday's game against Thomas Jefferson and being down at halftime," Oviedo said.

After being down 1-0 at halftime on Monday, Hendersonville battled back to make it a tie at 1 at the end of regulation. The teams had to play two overtimes, in which the Lady Bearcats came out with the 2-1 win.

On Wednesday Shannon Reeves' first-half goal on an assist by freshman Wesleigh Marshall put Hendersonville in the lead at halftime. Marietta Melendez's scrambled score right in front of the Polk goal in the 47th minute put the Lady Bearcats up 2-0.

The Lady Wolverines had a virtually-flawless cross assist and goal with 12 minutes to go but it was called back on an offside call.

Reeves finished things off with eight minutes remaining in the match as her quick foot netted a Polk goalie deflection for the 3-0 score.

The Lady Bearcats took 28 shots on goal to Polk's 15, and HHS goalie Madison Gold had 13 crucial saves in the shutout.

Hendersonville's Friday road match against Owen will be the big showdown for the conference title, but the Lady Bearcats will be without key senior defender Huntley and Stout. Regardless of the outcome HHS has already nabbed a No. 1 1-A playoff seed.

"We'll have to have girls step up without our seniors, our captains there. I think we can do it, especially for the conference championship," Oviedo said.

<p>Hendersonville kept its hopes for a sixth straight Western Highlands Conference title alive Wednesday night at Dietz Field by shutting out Polk County, the only conference team that has defeated it this season, 3-0. </p><p>If the Lady Bearcats (15-3-1, 10-1-1 WHC) had given up another loss they would have given the outright title to Owen, which only has two ties and no conference losses this season. Owen beat Polk on Monday night to give the Lady Wolverines (11-6-1, 9-2-1 WHC) their first conference loss. </p><p>"(Wednesday) night we played 80 minutes solid of soccer. We've been struggling to do that this season, by playing just one half of good soccer and then letting up, or vice versa," said HHS coach Freddy Oviedo. </p><p>It was Senior Night, and before the game HHS's only two seniors were honored, Anna Huntley and Kimberly Stout. </p><p>"I think the fact that it was Senior Night was a big factor, but I also think the girls learned from Monday's game against Thomas Jefferson and being down at halftime," Oviedo said. </p><p>After being down 1-0 at halftime on Monday, Hendersonville battled back to make it a tie at 1 at the end of regulation. The teams had to play two overtimes, in which the Lady Bearcats came out with the 2-1 win. </p><p>On Wednesday Shannon Reeves' first-half goal on an assist by freshman Wesleigh Marshall put Hendersonville in the lead at halftime. Marietta Melendez's scrambled score right in front of the Polk goal in the 47th minute put the Lady Bearcats up 2-0. </p><p>The Lady Wolverines had a virtually-flawless cross assist and goal with 12 minutes to go but it was called back on an offside call. </p><p>Reeves finished things off with eight minutes remaining in the match as her quick foot netted a Polk goalie deflection for the 3-0 score. </p><p>The Lady Bearcats took 28 shots on goal to Polk's 15, and HHS goalie Madison Gold had 13 crucial saves in the shutout. </p><p>Hendersonville's Friday road match against Owen will be the big showdown for the conference title, but the Lady Bearcats will be without key senior defender Huntley and Stout. Regardless of the outcome HHS has already nabbed a No. 1 1-A playoff seed. </p><p>"We'll have to have girls step up without our seniors, our captains there. I think we can do it, especially for the conference championship," Oviedo said. </p><p>The Lady Wolverines will host Chapman High tonight. </p><p>Polk's JV team won its match, 5-2.</p>